Pool lights and mystery box help

Jump to latest Follow Reply
C

CCK

0
Aug 20, 2018
7
Highland Village
Hi y’all,

1st post so apologies if im not posting correctly.

I have a few small lights in the pool that I’m going to replace bc they are not working. Im having some trouble finding replacement options and was hoping to get some guidance on what would work.

One if the lights appears to connect to some box that is on the grass near by. The box has proven difficult to find and is broken. Any suggestions on this should be great!

Light (there are two of these):
5a056200-3d43-403d-a6f7-33704d7df8aa



Odd box with wires (near one of the lights):
694f2540-9a4c-4d49-8fba-8cf94155bb68
 
Your pics did not come through.

Pool light junction boxes above ground are required by NEC code. They attach the wire from the pool light to the electrical feed.

736C4A37-F610-45EC-B2C8-8DD3CB33A018.jpg
 
Chris, you might have something other than what Allen described, which is the typical way electric-powered pool lights are wired. Based only on the branding on that box, "FiberStars," you might have some sort of fiber optic lighting. Which I think means the light source is in that box, and the light is transferred to the lights in the pool via fiber optics, so there would be no wires in the pool housings. That's not to say you couldn't run some, possibly, and convert the fiber optic setup to a standard wired light, but that's a bit beyond me.

See if you can get contact info for FiberStars in Fremont, and give them a call. If they're still in business, maybe they can advise you about your options. And maybe it's just a matter of changing out the blown light source in the above-ground box with a replacement part.
 
Allen & Dirk Thank you.

Made some calls... and this is what I found: The box is for fiber optics ( FO) and lights up the the two smaller lights. The light is pushed from this box into the pool ( there are a few methods around how these boxes were installed). The company ( Fiberstars ) was acquired by another company called RS Smith ( website is the same plus .com). Fiberstar model FS4 is from the early 2000s.

One of the product engineers from RSsmith told me that they no longer have replacement parts for this model because its so old. The bulb is likely replaceable but nothing else is.

That leaves me with two options. Replace FO tower with new FO tower or attempt to replace the whole FO system with something more common.

Questions:

1. Is it feasible to replace the FO light and FO tower box with a more traditional led light/ junction box? Are there pool remodel lights that i could fit into the existing hole/ housing?

2. I would also need to replace the FO box with a junction box. What kind of junction box is typical and where can i find one?

Thanks!
 
Intermatic PJB2175 2-Light Pool/Spa Junction Box Search on "pool light junction box" and you will find lots of info.

I think easiest will be to replace with another FO light if it fits into your niche and box as long as your FO cable is reusable.

I don't know the degree of difficulty of pulling the existing FO cable and pulling an electrical light cable in it's place. You may have to drain the pool below the light niche for that. And then you need some electrical work to connect to your panel. A lot needs to be scoped out to figure out what might work.
 
CCK said:
Allen & Dirk Thank you.

Made some calls... and this is what I found: The box is for fiber optics ( FO) and lights up the the two smaller lights. The light is pushed from this box into the pool ( there are a few methods around how these boxes were installed). The company ( Fiberstars ) was acquired by another company called RS Smith ( website is the same plus .com). Fiberstar model FS4 is from the early 2000s.

One of the product engineers from RSsmith told me that they no longer have replacement parts for this model because its so old. The bulb is likely replaceable but nothing else is.

That leaves me with two options. Replace FO tower with new FO tower or attempt to replace the whole FO system with something more common.

Questions:

1. Is it feasible to replace the FO light and FO tower box with a more traditional led light/ junction box? Are there pool remodel lights that i could fit into the existing hole/ housing?

2. I would also need to replace the FO box with a junction box. What kind of junction box is typical and where can i find one?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

You left out the easiest options. Check the fuse as Allen suggested. And then see if you can replace the bulb. Allen gave you some links to follow. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If a new bulb gives you the lighting you desire, then you're done. Unless you have a compelling reason to "upgrade," why not first try to fix what you have? Personally, I like the idea of having nothing but fiber running into the niches, instead of electrical wires...
 
If you decide to replace the bulb search for “elc 250 24v”, that’s what I had to replace mine with, noticeably reduced from my original 400 watt bulb.

I ended up recently replacing the fiber optic lights with the treo’s. For the cheapest solution buy them used through amazon warehouse ~$120 each. They can easily be returned if there is a problem. They can be driven with a simple 12v ac power source, I used this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DPJPX4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

this transformer can be connected via your pool automation controls (light), if not buy a remote control switch...lots of them...something like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072F7NJTZ/ref=sr_ob_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1535841340&sr=8-20&th=1. Note that whatever switch chosen needs to be able to turn off then back on relatively quickly to achieve treo color changes...you probably won’t find that in the specs but I imagine most support it ~1 sec.

before buying anything check to make sure that you have room for the treos by unscrewing and measuring the space available behind both of the existing fixtures to avoid this situation where he didn’t have room https://www.troublefreepool.com/thr...-fitting?highlight=Treo&p=1521576#post1521576

Search for “treo install” or “kelo install” to find more threads of interest. Some installed without draining the pool down below the lights, but I drained mine. I’m happy with mine. Good luck!
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
Hi Yall,

Update.... So replaced the bulb & fuse. The "mystery box" works now.

I found an old parts diagram with part numbers:
http://www.poolinspections.com/manuals/lights/fiberstars_product_book_2000.pdf

Ordered this fuse from Amazon:
[h=1]Fiberstars FSA9182 Fuse, Main Power, 2.5 AMP[/h]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0087N4W4C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ordered this light from Amazon:
[h=1]HI-110 MR16 Halogen Light Bulb for Fiber Optic Lighting, 19.7 Volts, 183 Watts[/h]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006H96Z2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Thanks friends! appreciate the help on this.
 
CCK said:
Hi Yall,

Update.... So replaced the bulb & fuse. The "mystery box" works now.

I found an old parts diagram with part numbers:
http://www.poolinspections.com/manuals/lights/fiberstars_product_book_2000.pdf

Ordered this fuse from Amazon:
[h=1]Fiberstars FSA9182 Fuse, Main Power, 2.5 AMP[/h]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0087N4W4C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ordered this light from Amazon:
[h=1]HI-110 MR16 Halogen Light Bulb for Fiber Optic Lighting, 19.7 Volts, 183 Watts[/h]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006H96Z2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Thanks friends! appreciate the help on this.
Click to expand...

Rick has just about every manual, with a few exceptions. I hit his website before I look to the manufacturers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply